Buttonwood Farm Sunflowers, Griswold

Buttonwood Farm is many things, but for photographers, it's the sunflowers that make the trip worthwhile. And of course, the homemade ice cream makes the trip to the quiet eastern side of the state on a hot July day even more worth it!

The current farm began in 1975, when the Button family cleared the land, using the timbers for construction, and created a business marketing beef cattle and dairy products. The land is used to grow feed for the cattle, among other things. The ice cream business evolved in 1994, and when the first acre of sunflowers was planted in 2003, the family was surprised at what a draw it was for them. Carloads of people came from far and wide to enjoy and photograph the beautiful sunny faces. The next year, they planted 10 acres, and now they plant 14 acres of the glorious bloom. There are two fields of sunflowers, on either side of the Shetucket Turnpike (Route 165). That second year, they decided to sell the sunflowers to the public, and donate all proceeds to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  This tradition continues, and in a short period in late July, they are able to draw people to view the sunflowers by foot or on a tractor-drawn hay wagon, and make a substantial donation to help make dreams come true! And they have line-ups at their ice cream shop!

What to Photograph

Try a multiple exposure to get an unusual effect, like a swirling skirt!

You can't miss the vibrant yellow fields of sunflowers when you come close to the area. There are over 300,000 of the beauties planted inside stone walls on 14 acres. The two fields are on either side of Route 165, and can easily be accessed. Park in the parking lot of Buttonwood Ice Cream, and take the short walk to the first field, adjacent to the shop. There's a wide unplanted swath through that field where you can walk and get up close and personal with the giant sunflowers. They tower well above your head. At the far end of this field, there's a small hill, and if you walk to the top of it you can get a good overview of that field of sunny faces.

There's also a couple of old grey barns standing beside the sunflowers, making a nice backdrop. But check out the buildings for some fun details to photograph. There's great old doors, and windows and weathered wood. And if you're there in the evening, watch for the sunset to reflect in the window!

The second field is located just a short walk away. Cross Route 165, and go left to the sunflowers you see just past the intersection of Glasgo Road (Route 201). This field is best shot in the evening, primarily because the sun sets behind the trees and hills in the distance, and can make for a pretty colorful scene. There is no access to this field, so you photograph from the stone wall that runs along the roadside. Stand beside the wall, or climb up on it for a better view - it's plenty wide enough.

Be sure to look around you for other photo opportunities. There's a great old barn full of character and detail on Glasgo Road, right next to the sunflower field.  Directly opposite the ice cream shop, there's a wonderful hill topped with a tree or two, and on a misty early morning, this is a very photogenic scene.

When to Go

Sunsets are spectacular!

Early morning is our favorite time to go. It's unlikely you'll find much competition then. Since it's a popular spot to go, the evening hours are a little more crowded, and you'll find it more difficult to get photos without interruptions. The second field, a little further from the ice cream shop is wonderful in the evening, but get there early to get a parking spot along the road, and a good spot to shoot from.

Check the website for dates when the sunflowers are in bloom. The first year we drove all the way there, only to find that not one flower was open! And of course, the blooms can vary year to year. They begin cutting flowers for sale as soon as they begin blooming, and then after about 2 weeks, all the blooms are cut for cattle feed. It's a very short season, but it's more than worth it!

Tips and Techniques

You'll want to try different lenses here - from wide angle for that overall landscape, to telephoto for the close-up of the flower head, and even macro lens to get up-close and personal with the seeds and petals. You might even want to bring a small step-stool with you to get super-close. These flowers are 8 feet tall!

Directions

Buttonwood Farm

471 Shetucket Turnpike

Griswold, CT   06351

Phone:  860-376-4081

Website:  www.buttonwoodfarmicecream.com

GPS Coordinates:   Latitude:  41.5553749  Longitude:  -71.8800209

Parking is available in the lot off Shetucket Turnpike. There's a separate parking lot for ice cream store customers, which is a little further away from the sunflower fields.

Tourist Tips

Buttonwood Farm Ice Cream

Delicious ice cream and waffle cones are made from scratch using old time recipes. There’s a wide variety of ice cream, yogurt, and sorbet flavors.

Hours: Noon - 9:30pm Monday - Friday, 11:30 am – 9:30 pm Sat and Sunday

During the sunflower festival, you can take a hayride through the sunflower fields.  Call 860-376-4081 for a reservation.